"I wanted to write a story with a hint of supernatural. In The Cypress Trap, the events revolve around a rabbit’s foot that may bring good luck, or it may just be in the owner’s head. There are so many stories, whether its ghosts or magic, where the supernatural is a tangible, concrete force affecting the characters. But in real life, it’s never that tangible."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Consciously, there’s no specific ties to me personally or my professional expertise. However, there’s always something of the author in every story. I’m sure all my books have a very specific feel and subconsciously, I’m sure there’s a lot of me written into the book. Does that make any sense?"

Yes, I think it does.

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Cypress Trap - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I wanted a red cover, and I went into designing it knowing that it had to be red. The story has an urgency and element of danger that I feel – and I hope the reader feels -- with this specific shade of red. The rabbit silhouette is a nod or a hint of the rabbit’s foot element in the story. I originally started out looking for an actual rabbit’s foot to put on the cover, but when I found a graphic with the silhouette, it just spoke to me for some reason."

Why should we read The Cypress Trap and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Rayanne and Owen come to life on the page in a way that, hopefully, sucks the reader into the story as if he or she is right there with the couple, experiencing everything they’re going through. There’s a mystery that unfolds, as the reader tries to figure out exactly what Owen stole, and why the previous owner of that item is so desperately trying to retrieve it “no matter what it takes”.

I love it when readers tell me, “I didn’t really take the book seriously at first, but I couldn’t put it down.” If you’re like me, you enjoy reading a few pages before bed. Now my goal is to keep you up all night reading because you just have to know what happens next. My story lines are well thought out, and I put a lot of effort into writing an ending that isn’t just surprising, but one the reader will never see coming."

Can you tell us something quirky about The Cypress Trap, its story and characters?

"The Cypress Trap is a vacation mystery. About a Florida couple who getaway for the weekend on a Georgia lake, this book is a fun read that is scary in some parts, nail-biting in others, and surprisingly funny when you least expect it . It’s a murder mystery with a female protagonist that takes its heroine, Rayanne Meeks, on an emotional roller coaster ride. She’s dealing with the state of her marriage to realizing that her husband, Owen, has stolen something that is now putting their lives in jeopardy to coming to terms with the past tragedy that set these events in motion. This Florida Mystery touches on all the senses and offers some humor in the mix too."

Who would you recommend The Cypress Trap to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"First off, be under no illusions: this is an edge-of-your-seat women’s adventure, not a cozy mystery or detective story. It’s about a husband and wife trying to repair their shaky marriage, and end up running through the woods for their lives. There is peril, violence, psychotic teens and a crazy dog on the loose. However, it’s never so over the top that readers with a squeamish stomach should be turned away, but it doesn't let you forget the fact that this is a thriller for a single minute.

Ultimately, readers who enjoy a page-turner with a mystery that twists and turns all the way to the end will enjoy The Cypress Trap."

If you could / wished to turn The Cypress Trap into a movie, who would be your dream team?

A far as actors go, I don’t know. I imagined Norman Reedus playing the best friend and even named the character Darryl.

One of the readers said she imagined Ron Livingston and Anna Kendrick as Owen and Rayanne. That works for me – although Ron Livingston is considerably older than Owen is supposed to be in that story."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I’m all about murder mysteries and suspense thrillers. I love to read them. Love to write them."

What is your writing process?

"I’ll spend months if not a good year working on an outline and detailed summaries. Once I feel like I’ve got a handle on the full story, then I start with the first draft. I try to write the draft from the first to last page without stopping. I’ll edit and develop in future drafts, and can have fourteen or fifteen drafts completed before I even give it to my editor. It’s torture, really."

What is in store next?

"My next book, Hangman, will be released in March 2016. It’s about a journalist returning to her hometown to attend the funeral of a childhood friend who committed suicide. Of course, as she starts asking questions, the journalists suspects her friend was actually murdered."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I love to fish. I don’t know if that’s quirky or not, but since The Cypress Trap takes place on a fishing trip, it seems appropriate. I wrote a lot of the story long hand while I was on the boat."

Brilliant - thank you for sharing that with us. My father used to fish and I have a picture of me age six holding up a fish nearly as big as I was! :-)